Sliding jaw latch for wrenches



Nov. 17,1953 R. T. JONES SLIDING JAW LATCH FOR WRENCHES Filed June 28, 1951 Ragr 7. Jones INVENTOR.

Patented Nov. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SLIDING J AW LATCH FOR WRENCHES Roger T. Jones, Batesville, Ark.

Application June 28, 1951, Serial No. 233,976

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in pipe wrenches of the sliding jaw type and has for its primary object to provide quick adjusting means for the sliding jaw.

Another object is to provide coacting teeth on the sliding jaw and shank of the stationary jaw with spring means holding the teeth engaged, and further to provide slidable locking means for the sliding jaw.

A still further object is to provide a wrench of this character which is efficient and reliable in operation, strong and durable, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view with the sliding lock shown in section and in looking position;

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the jaw released;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on a line 33 of Figure l, and

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on a line i-4 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numera1 5 designates a stationary jaw at the outer end of a shank 6 provided with a handle 1 at its inner end. A sliding jaw 8 is formed with a rectangular shaped slide 9 sliding on shank 6, the shank beingformed with teeth In opposing internal teeth I I in the slide.

A U-shaped clip [2 is secured to the sides of slide 9 by screws I3 and with the rear of the clip positioned behind the rear wall M of the slide and the clip is formed with inwardly projecting flanges IZa adapted to abut the rear of the shank to form a chamber [3b behind the shank.

A pair of cup-like members l5 are held in chamber 13b by inturned flange H5 at the edges of the rear wall l4 of the slide and against internal shoulders [6a at the sides of the slide, and

coil springs I! are positioned in cup-like members 2 slide are formed with aligned longitudinal slots 19 and 20 and a slide lock 2| is slidable in slot l9 against a wear strip 22 positioned between the back of clip 12 and rear wall I4 and the wear strip 22 is also formed with a longitudinal slot 23 aligned with slots 19 and 20.

A screw 24 is threaded into slide lock 2| and is slidable in slots [9, 20 and 23 and a beveled head 25 is secured on the inner end of the screw and is of a width greater than that of the slots to hold the slide lock in the clip [2.

A block 26 is supported on a pin 21 which has its ends positioned in slots 28 in the sides of slide 1-? for movement of the block toward and away from the rear edge of shank 6 and the block is further positioned for sliding head 25 behind the block to force the block forwardly and frictionally lock the strip 18 against the back of the shank.

Sliding jaw 8 is provided with a self-tightening jaw insert 29 which tightens the wrench on a pipe held between jaws 5 and 8 upon a forward swinging movement of the handle.

In the operation of the wrench, the sliding jaw 8 is quickly adjusted on shank 6 by pressing clip I2 and slide 9 inwardly against the tension of springs H, which thus disengages teeth H of the siding jaw from teeth ll! of the shank and the sliding jaw is then free to slide on the shank. Upon releasing clip I2, springs I! will move the sliding jaw laterally rearwardly and engage the teeth.

The jaw may then be locked by sliding slide lock 2| in a direction to ride beveled head 25 behind block 26 to frictionally hold resilient strip I8 against the rear edge of the shank 6.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the device Will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordi'ngly deemed unnecessary. I

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by. the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is: I I

A quick adjustable wrench comprising a shank having a fixed jaw projecting laterally at the front edge of the shank, a slidable jaw including a slide slidable on the shank, said shank and said 3 slide having opposing teeth at the front edge of the shank, a U-shaped clip secured to the sides of the slide and positioned behind the latter, spring means between the shank and slide and exerting rearward movement on the latter to hold 0 the teeth engaged, a locking block slidably carried by the slide behind the shank, a resilient metal strip between the shank and block, a sliding lock carried by the elip, and means aptuated by the sliding lock and. having wedging engagement behind the block to frictionally lock the strip to the shank.

ROGER T. JONES.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number r 492,626 569,037 675,008 841,018 1,040,092

" Number Name Date Ide Feb. 28, 1893 Dixon Oct. 6, 1896 Johnson May 28, 1901 Jordan Jan. 8, 1907 Adams Oct. 1, 1912 Leonard 4.;. -N V. 13, FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain 1907 

